IN TOWN AND OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 197, 9 November 1927, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

KIUI

NOTES

Miss M. McAllum. of New Plymouth is the guest of Mrs. Tancred, of Remu-

Xurse R. Clarkson, of the Stratford Public Hospital staff, who has been on a visit to Auckland, has returned, to Stratford.

Mrs. s! Walton, who has been on a visit to Mrs. W. H. Hawkins, of New Plymouth, has returned to Auckland. Mrs. G. Home, of New* Plymouth, has arrived in Auckland, en route to Sydney. Her sister, Miss Wade, of Timaru, accompanied her to Auckland. Mrs. George Watts and Miss Anderson, of Blenheim, who are on a motoring tour, have arrived in Auckland after spending a few days in New Plymouth. Miss Alison Greig has arrived after a visit to New' Plymouth. Mr. and Mrs. Clutha Mackenzie are on a short visit to Wellington. Mrs. Mcßryde and Miss Mcßryde, of Wellington, are visiting Auckland. Mrs. Hric Waters left for Wliangarei this morning to spend a holiday with her parents. Commander and Mrs. Bradley arrived by the Limited this morning. Mr. and Mrs. H. McCarthy, of Wanganui, are staying at the Albert Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Jones, of Christchurch, Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Young and Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Borne, Mrs. A. Willocks, Mrs. W. H. and Miss Fletcher, of Wellington, and Mrs. H. E. Mande, of Gisborne, are staying at the Star Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. G. Foster Clark and family, Mr. and Mrs. H. Clark, of Maidstone, England', and Mr. and Mrs. L. Anis, of Sydney, arrived by the Niagara yesterday. They are at the Hotel Cargen.

Mr. and Mrs. G. Calvert, of Cambridge, and Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Buckworth, of Hawera, are among those staying at the Central Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. O. Addison and Mr. and Mrs. W. McCrea, of Melbourne, and Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Gallan, of Sydney, arrived by the Marama yesterday. They are at the Grand Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Milner, of Nelson, are among the guests at the Grand Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. P. IT. Moody, Mrs. W. R. Pearson and Miss Bowling, of Queensland, who arrived by the Marama this morning on a visit to New Zealand, are staying at the Royal Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Grace, of New York, and Miss Bardewell, of Queenstown, are at the Royal Hotel.

MARQUESS OF ABERDEEN

GOLDEN WEDDING UNIQUE LUNCHEON PARTY Bj/ CaMe.—Press Association. — Copi/right. LONDON, Monday. A unique luncheon party was held today in celebration of the golden wedding of the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen. The six bridesmaids and the best man, the Bari of Balfour, who is still a bachelor, were present. At the request of the Marchioness all the men wore Highland dress. Twelve descendants of the Marquess and his wife inscribed their signatures round the family crest on the tablecloth used for the luncheon. These will later be embroidered. —A. and N.Z. John Campbell Gordon, first Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, ex-Viceroy of Ireland and of Canada, was born in 1547. He is the third son of the late Earl of Aberdeen. He was educated at St. Andrews and Oxford. In 1870, his two elder brothers having died, he succeeded to the earldom. On November 7, 1577, he married Isobel, daughter of Lord Tweedmouth, who was then 20 years of age. Lady Aberdeen is without doubt the best known woman in the world. She has been for many years president of the International Council of Women, a federation of the National Councils of Women of thirty-nine countries—the largest organised group of women in the world, with a membership running into millions. Lady Aberdeen is also president of the London Lyceum Club, one of the oldest women's clubs in England, which of recent years has established a. chain of affiliated Lyceum’Clubs throughout Europe and the British Empire.

WOMEN IN POLITICS

ASSOCIATION’S SOCIAL EVENING

The Priscilla Tearooms were attractively decorated last evening with bowls of vivid poppies and tall vases of lilies on the occasion of a social evening given to mark the close of the year by the Women’s Political Association.

The president. Miss Ellen Melville, gave a brief resume of the work ac-

complished by the organisation during the year, referring to the many interesting addresses that had been given by various speakers. The recentlyformed public-speaking class had also been productive of good results, said Miss Melville, who also congratulated the association on its ready response to the call for helpers for the Mayor’s unemployment drive. The speaker explained that the money obtained by the drive was not to be given out in charitable aid, but was to be used for the formation of playing grounds and sports areas* and in that way it would benefit not only the unemployed men. but also the community at large. Several enjoyable songs and elocutionary items were given, including numbers by Mrs. H. King and Miss Audrey Perry.

Double Presentation

MISS MARGARET HITCH- 1 COCK AND MISS McLEAN I GUESTS AT MORN ING TEA !

KARITANE COMMITTEE A charming little function took place at “Marinoto,” Symonds Street, this morning, when Mrs. W. H. Parkes, on behalf of the committee of the Karitane Hospital, made a presentation of an engraved silver teapot to Miss Margaret Hitchcock, the matron of the hospital, who is leaving for Dunedin, where she will undertake the duties of matron at the new training centre. THE members of the committee were received by Mrs. Parkes in the. reception hall, which was attractively brightened with large bowls of orange and gold poppies and graceful yellow irises. Morning tea was served in the dining' room, where crystal vases of scarlet and white roses made dainty decoration, and afterwards the guests , adjourned to the music room, where, amid a veritable bower of roses and sweet-smelling stocks and sweet peas, Mrs. Parkes paid a gracious tribute to the work of Miss Hitchcock and presented her with the handsome token of the esteem in which she is held by the committee of the Auckland Karitane Hospital. “UNCEASING DEVOTION” Mrs. Parkes expressed the regret with which Miss Hitchcock’s departure was regarded, and said that the success that had attended the hospital was largely attributable to the unceasing devotion which the matron had given to the work since the inception of the home. During the four years in which the hospital has been in existence Miss Hitchcock had trained many girls as Karitane nurses and they all expressed their keen love of her as their matron, a testimony which in Mrs. Parkes’s opinion spoke volumes for the charming personality of the departing matron, whose memory would always remain in the hearts of the girls whom she had trained. Mrs. Parkes said that, much as Auckland would wish to retain Miss Hitchcock as its Karitane Matron, it realised that it would be selfish to deprive Dunedin of one who, by virtue pf her thorough knowledge, and possession of so many essential qualifications, was eminently capable of undertaking the responsible work of guiding the new training centre, and she wished her every happiness in her new sphere. WELCOME TO MISS McLEAN Miss McLean, who will take over the position of matron of the Karitane Hospital here, was welcomed by Mrs. Parkes, who said that during the war Miss McLean had held a number of very responsible positions that had done much to fit her for the appointment as Miss Hitchcock’s successor, and she extended the best wishes of the committee to her and wished that the same measure of success might attend her efforts as had characterised Miss Hitchcock’s regime. Dr. W. H. Parkes also spoke in eulogy of Miss Hitchcock, saying that only a woman of marked ability could have overcome the difficulties which had been continually encountered since the inauguration of the Karitane Hospital, and that only one with a very rare personality could have maintained the cheery spirit of optimism which Miss Hitchcock had shown.

He also referred to the good fortune of the Karitane Committee in securing Miss McLean’s services, saying that he had personally known her work for many years and was confident that her outstanding ability, never-failing tact and charm of manner would do much to ensure her success at the hospital. As a token of the esteem in which she was held by tlio medical fraternity of Auckland he presented Miss McLean with a vase of crystal. Both Miss Hitchcock and Miss McLean expressed their appreciation of the honour that had been paid them and of the kindly spirit which prompted the gifts. Among those present were: Lady Sinclair Lockhart. Sister Hannah, Mrs. George Fowlds, junr., Mrs. David Nathan, Mrs. A. Henderson, Mrs. H. Ivirker, Mrs. IT. P. Richmond, Mrs. F. Astley, Mrs. T. Culpan, Mrs. B. C. Chilwell, Mrs. G. Walker, Mrs. B. C. Stephens, Mrs. T. C. Garlick, Mrs. C. Coldicutt. Mrs. J. B. Johnston, Mrs. W. F. Stewart. Mrs. A. D. Stewart, Mrs. Woodhead, Mrs. J. H. Frater, Mrs. E. Roberton, Mrs. Athol Hodgson. M.rs. Hodgson, senr.. Miss E. Partridge, Miss Robb. Dr. Gunson, Dr. H. Pettit and Dr. Roberton.

TENNIS DANCE

The Waiuku Tennis Club held a very successful dance in the Public Hall on Monday evening when about 63 couples were present, as well as a fair number

of spectators. Although the night was very warm the dancers evidently found the strains of Walter Smith’s orchestra ideal for dancing, for they were insistent in their

repeated encores to each dance. An appreciated extra was contributed by Miss Mona Dohnt. Mr. R. Eade carried out the duties of M.C.

VAMPIRE MOTHERS AND THEIR SONS!

The Victorian mother ran to one extreme. She brought up her son to look on every woman, herself included, as his willing slave. [ But in "The Silver Cord” I play [ the part of a modern mother who is the antithesis of this, writes Lilian Braithwaite, the English actress. She is the possessive type who brings up her sons to be the slaves of her affection. I hold no brief for her. She is a sentimental, self-centred creature who does her suave best to ruin her son’s happiness, all the time deluding herself that she is acting in his interest. She would rather alienate her boy’s whole affection from his wife than allow part of his affection to be alienated from herself. Quite a Credible Type Yet she is no incredible monster. Her type exists here and there in England, and to a much greater extent in other European countries and in America, where boys do not, as a rule, leave home before the college age. I have met such women. This attempt at complete absorption of a son's affection is a habit of years with them. Though sincere in their love they are absolutely blind to the fact that their desire to order their sons’ lives is sheer selfishness, not as they fondly imagine a proof of wise affection and guidance. They are faced with utter loneliness when their sons leave home, simply because their obsessed concentration on their children has left them no other outlet for interest or affection. They do nothing but enjoy their motherly devotion all their lives. Not Entirely Blameworthy 1 They are not altogether blameworthy, however, these “son-devour-ing” mothers. They are only women with an under-complement of wisdom and an ovcr-eomplcment of sentimentality. Whatever enormities they commit, and however outrageous their claims on their adoring sons, they mean excessively well. It is their unconsciousness of wrongdoing and misdirection that is so pitiable. “Have ’em, love ’em and leave ’em be,’ is the advice of the young girl to the mother in the play. But the “leaving ’em be” can be overdone. A little “vamping” by a wise mother is good for a boy. It teaches him tenderness toward the weaker people of the world, consideration, thought - for others, chivalry. That attitude seems to me particularly desirable in these hail-fellow-well-met days. I do believe most profoundly that the modern ideal of the mother who shares her children’s youth is the right one. It is no’ good being aloof. A mother has to live in a personal contact with her sons that is neither too close nor too distant.

Even at the beginning of the boy’s life the mother should control her instinct, to shield him. Let him fend for himself, even if he does meet with a few knocks in the process of learning manliness. Suggestion rather than dictation is an excellent nursery rule. It is not necessary, in order to earn the respect of your small boy, to institute yourself as an infallible authority on everything from ethics to engines. It is not easy for a mother to follow her son sympathetically through all the stages of adolescence. But here again coercion is the snag to avoid. Without insisting on any particular conduct, m mother can tell her son what she thinks he should do, and it is up to him to give her a fair hearing. Too much insistence on finding out all about the boy’s doings breeds deceit, and that to'my mind is the niost frightful thing that can enter family relationships. Scorning the Tear of Self-pity At the end of all this infinite care on a mother’s part, there is what some people would call loneliness. The sons marry and leave their mother, however selfless and devoted she has been. But the wise mother scorns the tear of self-pity. Her boy may have outgrown her in some respects, but not have outgrown her love. He will always give her a loyalty that nothing can destroy. FLANNEL DANCE PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB An attendance which augurs well for a. successful season was evident at the first of a series of flannel dances promoted by the ladies and social committee of the Ponsonby Cruising Club and held at the clubhouse last evening. The dance hall was decorated in the club’s colours, blue and white, and made a delightful setting for the many charming frocks worn. The musical numbers were excellent, and the floor in perfect order. The next of these dances will be held on November 22.

guy FAWKES DANCE ilrs. U. H. Tancred, of Ladies' Mile, Kemuera, was tlio hostess at a delightful little dance given to a number of young friends on Guy Fawkes s evenAmusing masks were distributed and during the evening much 'amusement Was caused by the variety of thrilling fireworks. The house was charmingly decorated with bowls of flowers and made a pretty setting for the colourful frocks worn by Mrs. Tancrcd's guests, among whom were: —Mrs. Dutton, Airs. Lennard, Mrs. Bremner, Mrs. Gambier, Miss Kainger, Miss Wilson, Miss Adkins, Misses Cerutty. Miss McAllum, Miss Armitage, Miss Henley, MissKatterfieldt, Miss Gill, Miss Ford, Miss Wilson, Miss Smith. THE VICTORIA LEAGUE’S EVER-READY COMMITTEE The gills of the Ever-Ready subcommittee of the Victoria League held a very interesting exhibition of their work last evening in the League rooms. A wonderful collection of toys to delight all the little back-block children for whom they are intended, was on view, and included dolls, scrapbooks, prettily-framed pictures, and a hundred other things. A display of photography, marquetry work, leather and raffia work, sewing and cooking was also made, all the articles being the work of the members. Miss J. Mowbray, president of the Victoria League, gave a brief address and declared the exhibition open. “One has only to observe the fine display of work here to-night,” she said, “to realise how useful and capable the modern girl has become.” A play entitled, “Such is Fame,” was acted by Miss E. Adkins, Miss P. Mobberley. Miss L. Jourdain and Miss 13. Richardson, and elocutionary items > were contributed by Miss Redstone. Charades were also played, and the evening concluded with supper, which was provided ahd made by the girls of the Ever-Ready Committee.